Volkswagen Golf Care & Maintenance

I would very much like to know if anyone else is having the same problem as I with their throttle having a large amount of free play approx 1" (25mm). I have had car back to the dealer 3 times for this problem, the first they did nothing and said they called factory tech and they were told it was normal. 2nd time they tried to adjust and it got better but it only stayed that way for a few days. 3rd time they called factory again and said they got instructions for some NEW settings, well the car didn't have the lag in the throttle and ran like it had an extra cylinder added GREAT! I thought, it only lasted for about 2 weeks. it is back like it was when I first complained.

Comments

I have a VR6 2000 Jetta, it has over 24,000 mls on it and is now past the warranty. I've been going into the desert area where the wheather is 100 degrees and now there is a yellow wax melting out of every door. One day while using the electric window it made an aweful noise then the window dropped to the botton of the door. I called the dealer, which is the Mckenna in H.B. and the man told me to bring it in, that I didn't do anything wrong, and this has happen before and to ask for him only. So, I bring it in and another guy (the manager) tells me it will be $80 to look at and $400 to fix the window. I said this shouldn't be happening to a newer car and isn't the window under a manufacture warranty and he said that the 24k was the manufacture warranty. This is a defect in the electric window. Has this happened yet to any one else?Thanks for your input!

Shelbyb,I too have experienced the 'window-crash'in my 99.5 Jetta GLS, although mine occurred in snow (at the airport 35 minutes b4 flying out,grrr) not in desert heat.Fortunately i guess, it happened on the very last day of my warranty, so it was repaired for free.I've been reading the forums on vwvortex.com, and it seems to be a pretty regular occurrence that volkswagen fixes for free, and have actually redesigned the window regulator to compensate.Good luck

My daughter has a 1997 Jetta GL with and automatic transmission. She has 82,000 mile on it and the transmission has never been serviced. I understand that it is a difficult trany to service. Special tools and gauges are needed. Amco will not do the service on a Jetta transmission. When should this be done? The dealer said it would only cost about $60. I just have to get the car away from my daughter long enough to get it in to the shop.

I have owned my Tulley(NH) 2000 Jetta for approx. 2 yr/48,000 highway miles. Here are the problems I have experienced...

* The car burns oil rapidly between oil changes and requires maintenance* My drivers side AND passenger side window fell into the door and after the secretary told me there was nothing they could do (mind you, it was raining and I had a 1 hr commute home) I had the manager help, if you call it that...I was charged $250.* The sunroof is broken (its $85 just for VW to look at it)* The Mass Airflow Sensor needed replacement at 40,000 miles ($550)* There is a rattling in the passenger side speaker (dealer can’t figure it out but charges for checking)* The dash board lights sometimes don’t come on

Please note that all of these problems are not due to misuse of the car...at one time I ran a car detailing business and I treat the car very, very well and have been disheartened by its problems.

VW service is horrible!! and the workers are very unsypathethic to any problems. Since its not one problem that recurs over and over I dont qualify for the lemon-law; a loophole if you ask me.

I will never buy a VW again.Feel free to ask me any questions… jeffebay2000@yahoo.com

Hi everyone,I need some advise. I am a student on a very tight budjet and i am looking for my first reasonable car. Basically I need realiability (especially for our Canadian winters), don't want to invest tons in repairs and just a car that will get me to school,work, home. I expect to do about 20 000km/yr and I always keep up on oil changes and general maintenance etc.

Passing by my local garage, I noticed someone was selling a 4 door, 5-Speed 91 Jetta. It has 215 000 kms, some rust, visible repairs on the moldings but otherwise it seems in good shape. Took it for a spin and it seemed ok although i'm not used to driving manual. The thing that concerned me is that there was a light on the dashboard and buzzing of some sort, like a warning light. The guy said it was something he had to adjust. Any ideas what it could be? He's asking for $2000 CDN.I am wondering what you all think of this. Do Jettas have an overall good rating? In terms of quality, do you think this car would last very much longer...will it see 300 000? Is there anyone out there with this same car that can give me some advise? Or anyone that has had experience with Jettas, were you pleased or deceived with Jetta?

Thank you so much for your help and advise. I appreciate all your time and patience. My first car is a big step and I dont want to make a mistake.Have a great day!!

Have a 2000 Jetta 1.8T. Yes, I had a problem with the pass. window crashing(luckily under warranty), have had the yellow wax seeping down the bottom of the undercarriage in the summer, but what do you guys think of using synthetic oil in these turbo's? I know it will cost about $50 an oil change but you can go to 5,000 miles between them and just think of how much that turbo will be to replace if it goes. Those turbos are lubricated by the oil that's why it's important to keep the oil clean and changed regularly. But synthetic oil will probably keep that turbo clean and running longer and better. What do you think and do you use any additives?

If you wanna use it, that's up to you. The service interval for the turbo is 5000 miles anyway, so if you change the oil every 5K (and save the paperwork from it), VW will be responsible for the turbo if anything happens. Am I right in this assumption? Just wondering.

I have a 2002 Jetta Wagon V6 with 2,000 miles on it. After it warms up, I can hear a knocking/sucking (more of a knock though) coming from the engine compartment while in park. The knocking doesn't seem to speed up when rpms increase. When I press the gas down, the knock goes away for about 10 seconds. I have worked a lot on cars, and the knocking doesn't sound like it's coming from the engine though it is very hard to locate where it is coming from. One other thing - when I have the gas cap off, I can hear it quite loudly coming from the gas pipe/cap entry. It strikes me as something vacuum related but I should would like to know what it is. Any ideas are appreciated.Thanks

I noticed the same thing. I have a 2002 GLS V6. My car not only has a inch of lag on the pedal, but the worst part (actually dangerous) is that the gas builds up during the lag time ending in a severe lurching that often squeals the tires. This happens most often while apply the gas while moving slowly during a turn.Regards

That doesn't sound normal about the gas pedal. My 2002 1.8T takes off immediately after I touch the pedal. A friend of mine drove the car (he has a 1994 Mercury Cougar), and he spun out the first time he hit the gas and lurched when he braked. He said the pedals were really sensitive. I think so as well. I will spin sometimes when accelerating, because I don't realize how hard I push down the gas pedal.

Vocus,No this problem is the result of a lag. You press the pedal down slowly about an inch or two and you feel nothing. Then, after about 2 seconds, all the gas that you've been pouring in goes into the cylinders at once (the same effect as if you floored the car) and then the wheels spin. It is certainly not normal, but I don't know how much of a problem it is. It is a bit dangerous however with the V6 because you really take off and it tends to happen when you slowly accelerate while turning (around 5mph)...

I have turbo lag, but that's normal in a car with automatic and a turbo engine. It hesitates a little tiny bit when I hit the gas at first, but it doesn't take right off like you said unless I hit the pedal hard enough for it to do so.

I just ordered a 2002 Jetta wagon with 1.8T engine and Auto. I was wondering what the recommended octane is? Since you really have the same engine, I'll believe you over the people who simply say "use 91 or 93" or "I think it is OK to use regular". Thanks in advance.

P.S. How do you like performance of the new 180 hp turbo with the Tiptronic? When we test drove it, my wife did most of driving since it will be mainly her car. Seemed pretty fun, tho I wanted the stick for best driving pleasure.

I can't drive a stick and commute too much in heavy traffic, so I needed an automatic. I think it's really good, compared to my 2001 Protege it is anyway. I know the AC doesn't affect performance at all.

I use 93 all the time, because it only costs $1 or so more per tank than regular. Also, 93 is recommended. I hear you can use 87/89, but with lower performance and fuel economy.

I know, I want to use regular sometimes, but it's not worth damaging my engine or lowering the performance of it to save like $1 a tank. I have 6000 miles on a car I took delivery of on 11/3/01, so that gives you an idea of how much I drive it. If I can use premium fuel in mine, I am sure everyone can.

ive got 10200 miles and I've had my car since Feb 28th, 2001, its a lease so I'm keeping up with the 1k miles a month. Hell, I got the 2.0 engine and even I use premium, I know it is totally unnecessary with such a weak, low tech engine but I want to baby it....lol

I just purchased a 2002 GTI 1.8T (Indigo Blue, beige leather, 17" wheel pkg, luxury pkg) and am enjoying the car. This is my first VW (or European car for that matter) so I'm getting adjusted to some of the nuances.

I do have a couple of questions for current GTI owners about the car:

1) I only have about 600 miles on the car, but am noticing a low popping sound when making sharp turns especially at low speeds (backing out of a parking spot). The wheel is not fully to the lock, but it sounds like the steering/suspension making a sound. Is this normal and has anyone else experienced it?

2) There is a annoying rattle/squeak from the passenger side front seat. Any comments on what it might be and how to stop it? It doesn't seem to occur when someone is sitting in it or if I reach over and hold the seat.

the popping sound from the steering is somehting I have, that got fixed and came back the enxt day and gets rreally bad where you can hear somehitng like a knocking noise coming from the front of the car and when you turn the steering wheel it kinda of creaks, but now when I take it to get fixed I don't hear it and they won't do anyhting about it. When it was fixed originally, they said they replaced the rubber joint of the front strut or somehting like that. I read somewhere about a recall for a problem much like this for the Golf, but VW keeps saying to me that it's nothing to worry about.

The seat problem can be fixed by replacing the seat frame, which I've done twice but the second time it wasn't even fixed! So it lasts even today...Rattles are a given, you gotta hear my car. Even the little chrome area around the shifter(?) crekas when I slow down and accelerate! VW makes it better my [non-permissible content removed]...

The oil specified for use in the Volkswagen TDi for current models meets the "API Service CG-4" rating.

Oils which are suitable for the full recommended oil change interval in all climates include, but aren't limited to:Mobil Delvac 1, 5w40 (full synthetic, a reformulated version of Mobil 1 which is intended for diesel engines)Chevron Delo 400, 5w40 (full synthetic version)Shell Rotella T (full synthetic version, not to be confused with Rotella SB synthetic blend or regular Rotella T non-synthetic)Amsoil Series 3000, 5w30 (full synthetic, CH-4 rated)Amsoil High Performance, 10w40 (full synthetic, CH-4 rated)Amsoil semi-synthetic 15w40 (CH-4 rated and high quality, but almost as expensive as the full synthetic, and higher viscosity at low temperatures)Redline, synthetic version (make sure you get the type meant for diesel engines, with the CG-4 or CH-4 rating)

Our topic for Wednesday, March 13: Stump the Technicians!Join us with your maintenance & repair questions this Wednesday from 5-7pm PT/8-10pm ET. Some of our contributors from the maintenance & repair boards will be waiting to hear your problems and attempting to solve them.

kirstie_hRoving HostEdmunds.com

MODERATOR

Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.

have a 2001.5 passat with front seat heaters. car battery is dead again. going back to the dealer for 3rd time. the drivers seat heater wont turn off. they replaced the switch twice. any one exp this problem? car has 9000 miles on it.